Beasley brothers united for Chicago's home opener against D.C.

CHICAGO (Friday, April 13, 2001) -- It’s a good bet, the Beasley family will be carefully watching the Chicago Fire tomorrow night.

For the second straight weekend, the Fire will be the nationally-televised Major League Soccer match on ESPN2, this time against D.C. United in the 9 p.m. (ET) home opener at Soldier Field. Tomorrow night’s game will also feature the Beasley brothers on the same sideline for the first time in their pro careers.

On Tuesday, the Fire acquired striker Jamar Beasley, 21, the older brother of midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, sending a conditional 2002 draft pick to the New England Revolution in exchange.

Jamar appeared in 41 matches since his MLS debut in 1998. Last year, he played in 19 matches for the Revs, starting six and recording three goals and three assists. "I like where I'm going," said Beasley. "I'm very excited about playing in Chicago, one of the best organizations in this league, and about playing next to my little brother DaMarcus. It's like a dream come true. We always talked about playing together, whether it was with the national teams, a club team, or in the World Cup. I'm really looking forward to contributing my skills with the Fire."

In 1999, he started three of the 18 matches in which he played, registering one assist.

"We feel like we've been able to provide a good environment for young, talented players in the past, and Jamar will be no exception," Fire coach Bob Bradley said. "We think he'll be able to contribute to his team and keep developing as a professional player."

DaMarcus, 18, a rising star with the United States men and the under-20 national team,
played in 18 regular-season -- starting three -- and seven playoff games as a Fire rookie
in 2000 while also completing high school graduation requirements. His MLS contract was extended
yesterday through 2005.

MLS has one other brother combination presently in the league with Judah and Micah Cooks on D.C. United. Previously, brothers Chris and Sean Henderson played together with the Colorado Rapids. Brothers Sam and Seth George both played for Chicago, but were not on the roster at the same time.

Injuries have reduced the Fire to 15 players for tomorrow’s match. Foreign allocations Peter Nowak, Hristo Stoitchkov and Sergi Daniv are injured while Diego Gutierrez and Andrew Lewis are suspended after drawing red cards in last week’s 1-1 draw in Columbus.

D.C. United surprised defending champion Kansas City 3-2 last Saturday on a goal by rookie Mark Lisi in the 88th minute. Key offseason addition, goalkeeper Mike Ammann will make his first league appearance for United, but three other usual starters, defender Eddie Pope, midfielder Ben Olsen and striker Jaime Moreno. Only Pope is expected back in the near future.

Capsule previews of Saturday’s matches (all times Eastern):

D.C. United at Chicago Fire, 9 p.m.
Television: ESPN2
Records: United 1-0, 3 points; Chicago 0-0-1, 1 point.
Season series: First meeting. United leads all-time regular-season series 4-2 with a 17-11 advantage in aggregate goals.
Leading scorers:: D.C. United - F Raul Diaz Arce (1-1-3); Chicago - F John Wolyniec (1-0-2).
Did you know? The Fire were 13-2-1 at Soldier Field last season.
Key players out: D.C. United - F Jaime Moreno (right knee surgery), M Ben Olsen (right ankle fracture); Chicago - D Andrew Lewis (red card suspension), D Diego Gutierrez (red card suspension), M Sergi Daniv (left ankle surgery).
Key matchup: D.C. United M Marco Etcheverry vs. Chicago M Chris Armas - Armas is known for his ability to shut down the opponent's playmaker while Etcheverry's experience and guile have made him a force to be reckoned as he enters his sixth season in the league. The Bolivian's preference of drifting to one side of the field may pull Armas from the middle of the field, creating space for United's attack.
Notes: D.C. United will face the other MLS Cup 2000 finalist after overcoming the league champion Kansas City Wizards in its home opener despite the absence of four starters. . . The Black-and-Red came back twice from one-goal deficits, taking a 3-2 decision on an 88th-minute game-winner from No. 3 overall draft pick Mark Lisi. . . The Fire missed Hristo Stoitchkov and Peter Nowak in the match against Columbus because of injury and they are again listed as doubtful. . . Wolyniec substituted for Stoitchkov up top, teaming with Josh Wolff. . . Chicago almost clinched the match but spectacular Crew goalkeeping kept potential Dema Kovalenko and Chris Armas game-winners out of the net in the 1-1 draw. . . Last season, the Fire had a player ejected in each of its first four games in 2000.
Scheduled officials: Referee - Gerry Corrie; Assistants - Jorge Reyes, Francisco Sanchez.

Columbus at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.
Television: WSYX
Records: Columbus 0-0-1, 1 point; Tampa Bay 1-0, 3 points.
Season series: First meeting. Mutiny leads series 13-7 with 40-29 advantage in aggregate goals)
Leading scorers:: Columbus - F Dante Washington (1 goal, 0 assists, 2 points); Tampa Bay: M Steve Ralston (1-1-3)
Did you know? In two meetings at home in Raymond James Stadium last season, Tampa Bay outscored the Crew 8-2.
Key players out: Columbus - F Brian McBride (right knee sprain), D Duncan Oughton (left ankle sprain); Tampa Bay - D Chad McCarty (broken left ankle), D Steve Trittschuh (broken right fibula), D Chris Houser (illness).
Key matchup: Columbus D Tenywa Bonseu vs. Mutiny F Mamadou Diallo - Although marking Diallo will be a shared assignment among the Crew's four-man backline, Columbus acquired Bonseu specifically to help neutralize quick, powerful forwards such as "Big Mama".
Notes: After shooting down Dallas 4-2 at the Cotton Bowl, the Mutiny hosts Columbus in its home opener at Raymond James. . . With league games and the Giants Cup, from which it was eliminated yesterday, the Crew completes a stretch of four matches in 11 days. . . The Crew must be wary of a balanced Mutiny attack that saw seven different players register points in its opener. . . Injuries have decimated the Mutiny back line which now must rely on newcomer Craig Demmin and veteran Joe Addo to corral Crew speedsters Jeff Cunningham, Brian West, Dante Washington and Edson Buddle. . . For Columbus, locking down Carlos Valderrama in the midfield must be the top priority.
Scheduled officials: Referee - Tim Weyland; Assistants - Scott Weyland, George Vergara.
Miami at New England, 7:30 p.m.
Television: WLVI-56
Records: Miami 1-0, 3 points; New England 0-1, 0 points.
Season series: First meeting; Miami leads all-time regular-season series 6-4-2, though Revolution holds 17-16 advantage in aggregate goals.
Leading scorers:: Miami - F Alex Pineda Chacon (2-2-4); New England - M Leonel Alvarez (1-0-2).
Did you know? Since entering MLS in 1998, Miami is only 1-4-1 at Foxboro Stadium
Key players out: Miami - none; New England - M Yari Allnut (right foot surgery), D Rusty Pierce (left hamstring strain).
Key matchup: Miami D Carlos Llamosa vs. New England F Wolde Harris: Unable to find the net in week one against the MetroStars, Harris encounters perhaps the league's best man-marker in week two. New England must also hope for more aggressive offensive performances from winger William Sunsing and midfielder Andy Williams.
Notes: The Revs look to rebound from a disappointing last-second loss the MetroStars this past Saturday. . . Miami enters with a glut of attacking players and a renewed sense of confidence after its season opening win over Colorado. . . The Fusion is expecting to field an even stronger team this weekend with defensive ace Carlos Llamosa scheduled to make his debut after sitting out a red card suspension in the Fusion's opener. . . Generating more offense will be a priority for the Revs who produced only six shots in the loss to the MetroStars.
Scheduled officials: Referee - Brian Hall; Assistants - Chip Reed, Richard Eddy.
Los Angeles at Kansas City
Television: KCAL
Records: Los Angeles 0-1, 0 points; Kansas City 0-1, 0 points.
Season series: First meeting. Los Angeles leads all-time regular-season series 10-8-2 with the aggregate goal totals tied 31-31.
Leading scorers:: Los Angeles - F Sasha Victorine, D Adam Frye (each 1-0-2); Kansas City - M Matt McKeon (1-1-3)
Did you know? Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid was an assistant on the 1994 U.S. World Cup team that featured goalkeeper Tony Meola and defender Mike Burns of the Wizards , plus defender Alexi Lalas and Paul Caligiuri, and striker Cobi Jones of his Galaxy.
Key matchup: Los Angeles M Mauricio Cienfuegos vs. Kansas City M Kerry Zavagnin - After a dismal first half against San Jose, Cienfuegos and his superb playmaking skills ignited the Galaxy attack. As Kansas City's designated midfield stopper, Zavagnin will need a big game to relieve the pressure from the Wizards' depleted back line.
Key players out: Los Angeles - F Brian Mullan (left knee surgery); Kansas City - D Peter Vermes (abdominal strain), D Nick Garcia (red card suspension).
Notes: Los Angeles returns to Arrowhead Stadium, where the Wizards ended the Galaxy's hopes of a return trip to MLS Cup with an improbable victories in both regulation and the series tiebreaker during last year's playoff semiginals. . . Both teams were surprised with opening 3-2 losses. The Wizards fell at D.C. United while the Galaxy fell to the visiting San Jose Earthquakes. . . The red-card suspension of Nick Garcia, coupled with the injury status of Peter Vermes leaves Kansas City's vaunted defense looking thin, while the Galaxy arrives in the Midwest relatively injury-free. . . Commissioner Don Garber will present the Wizards with their MLS Cup 2000 championship rings.
Scheduled officials: Referee - Alex Prus; Assistants - Thomas Supple, Jose Andrade.
Dallas at San Jose, 10 p.m.
Television: KSTR-Channel 49 (Dallas)
Records: Dallas 0-1, 0 points; San Jose 1-0, 3 points.
Season series: First meeting. Dallas leads all-time regular-season series 10-8 with aggregate goals even at 25-25.
Leading scorers:: Dallas: M Jorge Rodriguez (2-0-4); San Jose - Four players tied with two points (Scott Bower, Ronald Cerritos, Troy Dayak and Dwayne DeRosario)
Did you know? Earthquakes forward Ronald Cerritos has scored five goals and recorded eight assists in his 10 career matches against Dallas.
Key players out: Dallas - F Miguel Saavedra (right ankle sprain); San Jose - D Jimmy Conrad (fractured right foot), M Harut Karapetyan (left ankle surgery).
Key matchup: Dallas D Eric Dade vs. San Jose F Dwayne DeRosario - The Dallas Burn defense was exposed in the season’s first weekend against Tampa Bay and will be looking to set matters straight. Led by Eric Dade and Lubos Kubik, it goes up against another impressive attacking force. DeRosario proved difficult to contain in his MLS debut, combining deceptive speed and refined ball skills.
Notes: Two first-year head coaches, Mike Jeffries of Dallas and Frank Yallop enter this match with their teams coming off different results in the opening weekend. . . The Burn fell at home 4-2 to the Tampa Bay Mutiny, a match which saw it lose their offensive leader Jason Kreis to a right knee injury. An MRI conducted Monday afternoon showed no tear in the knee on which he had arthroscopic surgery in February, but he is listed as doubtful for the San Jose match. . . The Earthquakes open at home riding an impressive 3-2 road victory over reigning CONCACAF Champions Cup winners Los Angeles Galaxy with an attractive offensive display. Dayak, Cerritos and DeRosario put the Quakes ahead 3-0 in the first 27 minutes. . . Teen-aged striker Landon Donovan is expected to make his first MLS start after coming in off the bench last Saturday. . . The Quakes sport a 6-3 record against the Burn at Spartan Stadium, including a 5-0 rout in April of 2000, a match that saw Cerritos score two goals.
Scheduled officials: Referee - Ricardo Valenzuela; Assistants - Tom Bobadilla, Jon Wilson.
MetroStars at Colorado Rapids, 9 p.m.
Television: Madison Square Garden.
Records: MetroStars 1-0, 3 points; Colorado 0-1, 0 points.
Season series: First meeting. All-time regular-season series is tied 6-6 with MetroStars holding a 23-17 advantage on aggregate goals.
Leading scorers:: MetroStars - M Clint Mathis, F Adolfo Valencia (both 1-0-2); Colorado - F John Spencer (1-0-2).
Did you know? The MetroStars scored eight goals in two games against the Rapids in 2000 with seven different players finding the net, including Tab Ramos who has five goals and five assists in seven career games against Colorado.
Key players out: MetroStars - M Martin Klinger (second-degree left hamstring strain), D Mark Semioli (second-degree right hamstring strain), M Billy Walsh (stress fracture in right foot); Colorado - M Wes Hart (left Achilles strain), D Robin Fraser (abdominal strain).
Key matchup: MetroStars M Mark Chung vs. Colorado M Imad Baba - Two of the best wingers in MLS will have to balance their propensity to push forward into the attack with defending the counterpart. Both figured in goals for their teams in the first weekend and the player who can assert himself at Mile High Stadium should figure to be a factor in the match.
Notes: The MetroStars, one of the preseason favorites to reach MLS Cup 2001 in October, began the season with a 2-1 home victory over the New England Revolution. . . It was the usual suspects coming through for the Metros with Mathis and Valencia clinching victory last Saturday in front of more than 30,000 at Giants Stadium. . .The Rapids let a 1-0 lead slip away with their central defense exposed by MLS "Player of the Week" Alex Pineda Chacon in their opening 2-1 setback in Miami, demonstrating how critical the acquisition of Robin Fraser will be once he returns from injury. . . Defender Marcelo Balboa also sat out most of the match, recovering from abdominal hernia surgery. . . For Colorado, former Scottish League and English Premier League veteran John Spencer extended his positive performances during spring training with a goal giving the Rapids a temporary lead.
Scheduled officials: Referee - Kevin Stott; Assistants - Roger Itaya, Steven Davidson.